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I have a 4 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. They both have a good phonics foundation and are reading the Penguin Level 1 readers. My daughter can count to 25, understands addition and subtraction concepts, but doesn't yet write. I am working with her on prewriting skills, but don't want to push her into a formal handwriting curriculum at her age. My son is able to write simple sentences. He is at a late first grade/early second grade math level. I am not sure where to start with Heart of Dakota! This will be our first year with the program. I have looked at the charts and am considering Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, with our own readers and our own math program. Any advice for me? Thanks!

Beyond is probably too much for a 4yo. 6yo may be fine with it.
Have you looked at the placement charts and placed them accordingly? If you want to keep them together Little Hearts would be better.

It seems like maybe you could combine these two, except you would have to make accomodation for the 4YO with writing. If you plan to keep them together then you should use LHFHG. Beyond isn't too high in writing requirements but the next guide after that, Bigger Hearts, is. Your 4YO would not be able to keep up with it as a 5YO or maybe even as a 6YO if you drew Beyond out. I think you need to give her more time to grow before putting her in that guide. Although you could also decide to split them up by that point to make it easier for her to gain the skills she would need.

Attention span and length of the school day is another big factor for why not to move up in the guides too early. Each one makes the school day longer. You could do A Reason for Handwriting 1st grade with your son, since he can write more, and use the fine motor skills books for K level for LHFHG for your daughter, along with a handwriting book.

You could also have each of them in their own guide, and this allows them to move at their own pace and would give the younger one more time to mature in her writing ability and just the ability to comprehend and follow the higher level materials. Definitely check out the placement chart and pray for wisdom in making that decision!

Welcome to HOD!

I would combine them in LHFHG. There are plenty of options to up the level of work for the 6 year old.

Welcome to the HOD Board, mmercer48! Could you please share when your 4 yo will turn 5 yo? Thanks!

In Christ,
Julie